About Port Augusta NOW Visitor Guide
Port Augusta is a relaxed regional City where locals welcome visitors to stay a while to experience their back yard and all it offers.
Port Augusta has always been known as the “Crossroads of Australia” and is nestled between the beautiful Flinders Ranges only a 10 minute drive to the east, and the smaller Baxter Ranges to the west. The South Australian Outback starts at the beginning of the Stuart Highway and that happens to be in Port Augusta. Adelaide, to the south is only 303km away and is an easy 3.5 hour drive.
You can travel by vehicle from Adelaide along the Augusta Highway or take the meandering route via the Clare Valley and the Southern Flinders Ranges, both known for their excellent food and wine.
Premier Stateliner coach (bus) travels to Port Augusta every day and you can fly with Sharp Airlines Monday to Friday or you could experience train travel on either The Ghan or the Indian Pacific.
The waters of Spencer Gulf flow through the centre of the City and are a welcoming site for those who have travelled long distances from the Northern Territory or Western Australia. When driving over the Joy Baluch AM Bridge, the views of the foreshore areas equals many seaside locations in Australia.
Here you can walk or hire a bike to ride along the Coastal walking path. Bring your own or you can hire a kayak to explore the special mangrove areas or follow in the footsteps of explorer Matthew Flinders who went looking for the inland sea. This trip will take you to the very top of Spencer Gulf where you will find a very unique marine environment. The fishing is brilliant too.
The foreshore area offers a number of picnic facilities including barbeques, that are maintained daily. There are also a number of self cleaning toilets positioned along the east and western foreshores and at the many lawned parks throughout the City. The sun-protected children’s playground includes exercise equipment and a half-court basket ball court providing an ideal place to exercise or for kids to burn off energy. Kids will also enjoy the challenging Convic-designed Wave Skate & BMX Park positioned at the western end of the wharf area.
Port Augusta has a wide variety of good accommodation, including one of the thirteen motels, which is pet friendly. We have eco villas, apartments, a bed and breakfast, holiday homes, a cabin park, a Big 4/Aspen Park, and a Top Tourist caravan park. Port Augusta is also rated as a RV Friendly town.
Port Augusta is home to the Wadlata Outback Centre, the winner of six State Tourism Awards, which is considered to be one of South Australia’s largest and most popular tourist attractions. Here you will be able to find out where you can park, eat, where to stay, what to see and where to go in Port Augusta, the Flinders Ranges and through to the Outback of South Australia. The Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden is another one of our major award winning attractions that is a must visit. Here you will learn to appreciate and gain a better understanding of the unique native arid land plants that grow in our back yard.
Port Augusta offers many more exciting experiences and activities, so download the Port Augusta Visitor Guide App to ensure you do not miss a thing when you stay a while with us.